Cultivating Mindfulness to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

It’s a busy world. You fold the laundry while keeping one eye on the
kids and another on the television. You plan your day while listening
to the radio and commuting to work, and then plan your weekend. But in
the rush to accomplish necessary tasks, you may find yourself losing
your connection with the present moment — missing out on what you’re
doing and how you’re feeling. Did you notice whether you felt
well-rested this morning or that forsythia is in bloom along your route
to work?

Mindfulness is the practice of purposely focusing
your attention on the present moment — and accepting it without
judgment. Mindfulness is now being examined scientifically and has been
found to be a key element in happiness.

Ancient roots, modern applications

The cultivation of mindfulness has roots in Buddhism,
but most religions include some type of prayer or meditation technique
that helps shift your thoughts away from your usual preoccupations
toward an appreciation of the moment and a larger perspective on life.

Professor emeritus Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder and former
director of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of
Massachusetts Medical Center, helped to bring the practice of
mindfulness meditation into mainstream medicine and demonstrated that
practicing mindfulness can bring improvements in both physical and
psychological symptoms as well as positive changes in health attitudes
and behaviors.

Mindfulness improves well being

Increasing your capacity for mindfulness supports many attitudes that contribute to a satisfied life.

Being mindful makes it easier to savor the
pleasures in life as they occur, helps you become fully engaged in
activities, and creates a greater capacity to deal with adverse events.

By focusing on the here and now, many people who
practice mindfulness find that they are less likely to get caught up in
worries about the future or regrets over the past, are less preoccupied
with concerns about success and self-esteem, and are better able to form
deep connections with others. Read more...